Volunteering on the decline: long term commitments hold people back

Vancouver, BC, June 9, 2009: Lack of time and unable to make long-term commitments are the two reasons cited most often by British Columbians for not volunteering, according to the recent release of the Canada Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP).

The 2007 results from the national survey, conducted by Imagine Canada, were released yesterday in Ottawa and showed 46.6% of British Columbians volunteer time and talent either formally (with an organization) or informally (helping neighbours). In 2004, BC ranked number one in average number of volunteer hours per year (199). Yesterday’s numbers showed that number has slipped to 172.

“Everyone’s inclination is to believe we need more volunteers,” says Colleen Kelly, Executive Director of Vantage Point, who believes it is not a supply problem, but a demand problem.

“This report tells us not-for-profit organizations continue to offer traditional volunteer roles. In order to stop the decline in volunteering, the voluntary sector must catch up with what the next generation of volunteers is looking for in terms of meaningful community involvement.”

According to Kelly, there are plenty of people who want to give back to community. Organizations have, so far, not been creating enough project-based, time-specific roles that engage people’s specific skills—volunteer roles such as database designer, strategic business planner, legal beagle, financial wizard and marketing guru.

“We hear from potential volunteers every day who are passionate about causes, but they simply are not interested in traditional roles—the repetitive tasks, that require you to show up every Thursday night for the next 10 years,” explains Kelly. “Today’s volunteer—be it the 20-something generation, or the recently-retired baby boomer—wants to offer expertise, knowledge and career skills. They want to see the results and know they are making a meaningful contribution. And they want projects where they can be involved, and then move on.”

Vantage Point is addressing the challenge with a new book for leaders in the sector. A People Lens: 101 Ways to Move Your Organization Forward is a collection of stories and role suggestions, designed to inspire leaders to change the way they think about people engagement at their organization.

Kelly explains, “People are the competitive advantage of the not-for-profit sector.” She is challenging her fellow Executive Directors and CEOs to imagine what goals they could accomplish if they all doubled their current workforces.

A People Lens is available in hardcopy or e-book version from our website.

Vantage Point's mission is to inspire and build leadership in the voluntary sector. Our goal is to make it easy for voluntary sector organizations to lead, plan, govern, and to work with the right people to deliver their missions.
  

- 30 -

Media Contact:
Lynda Gerty
Manager, Communications
604.637.8293
lgerty@thevantagepoint.ca

After-hours Media Contact:
Colleen Kelly
Executive Director
ckelly@thevantagepoint.ca